By Eggy_Poolie
December 10 2006

Pools left it late to get the win but the win moves Pools into the playoff places thanks to Darlo and Notts County both losing. A tight affair which could have gone either way was won by Pools thanks to goals from Ben Clark and Darryl Duffy

A hard fought game results in Pools recorded their 4th win in as many league games. Despite the goals the game at times was bogged down and it became scrappy.

The first half was a tight affair and Pools were forced to defend for the majority of the half. Anything the Rovers attackers had was easily dealt with by Micky Nelson. And even when they could beat the defense Dimi was in no mood to be beaten as Ricky Lambert found out when Dimi made a great save from a header.

Hartlepools first real effort of the game came just after 20 minutes when Andy Monkhouse fired over the bar from the edge of the area. Pools then head another chance when Gary Liddle had a shot well saved.

Tony Sweeney, playing as a striker, came closest to opening the scoring when he intercepted a back header. The keeper came charging out and Sweeney chance was on its way in until Carruthers cleared it off the line.

At half time the game was 0-0 and Pools knew there first half performance wasnt good enough to be win the game.

In the seond half Pools came out the better side and chances from Duffy and Humphreys were well saved.

With 10 minutes of the game left Willie Boland wipped a corner into the area and it found Andy Monkhouse whose header was well saved but the ball ended up in the middle of a scrum of players and it ended up with Ben Clark who managed to get the ball in the net for his first goal for Pools

In football they say that you are most vuneralble straight after scoring and that was almost the case for Pools as Bristol almost levelled straight away but Elliott effort was comfortably saved by Dimi.

Pools made sure of victory in the 94th minute, Darryl Duffy latched onto a looping pass and managed to get infront of the defender to put the ball into the back of the net.

Hartlepools next game is against Rochdale at home and after 4 straight wins lets hope its a more entertaining tie than the FA Cup game last month